News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Life at Aka’ula School

Thursday, October 14th, 2021

Community Contributed

By Aka’ula School Students

Editor’s note: These stories are written by students and published in Aka’ula School’s newsletter, reprinted with permission.

Rugby in the Water
By Crystal Hoffman, Freshman

Akaʻula School and their swim program has incorporated water polo, considered by some the most ruthless and competitive water related sport ever. Water polo is a full contact sport. Swimming, wrestling, shooting, passing and dribbling are all aspects of this sport. On top of that, players are treading water the entire time to keep afloat for long periods. To participate, students should have swimming experience for a safer game; meaning, endurance, speed, and agility.…

Join a County Board or Commission

Thursday, October 14th, 2021

County of Maui News Release

The County of Maui is seeking applicants to fill multiple vacancies on county boards, commissions, councils and committees. There are currently two vacancies on the Molokai Planning Commission, among dozens of other opportunities to make an impact on local policy. 

There is one vacancy on each of the following: Affirmative Action Advisory Council, Civil Service Commission, Maui County Cultural Resources Commission, Real Property Tax Review Board, and Salary Commission. 

There are two vacancies on each of the following: Animal Control Board, Board of Ethics, Board of Variances and Appeals, Board of Water Supply, Fire & Public Safety Commission, Hana Advisory Committee to the Maui Planning Commission, Liquor Control Adjudication Board, Liquor Control Commission, Maui Planning Commission, Molokai Planning Commission, Paia-Haiku Advisory Committee to the Maui Planning Commission, Police Commission, Public Works Commission, South Maui Advisory Committee to the Maui Planning Commission, Kula Agricultural Park Committee, Commission on Healing Solutions for Homelessness, Maui County Arborist Committee, and Maui Redevelopment Agency. …

Visitors Bureau Seeking Nonprofit Partners

Thursday, October 14th, 2021

The Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau (MVCB) is seeking nonprofit organizations on Maui Nui to take part in the statewide Malama Hawaii program, an initiative to inspire mindful travel, while encouraging visitors to give back to the destination. Through this initiative, industry partners and volunteer organizations across the state have come together to build the Malama Hawaii initiative.

“There are currently nearly 80 hotel partners and more than 30 nonprofit partners statewide that have joined the program,” said Meagan DeGaia, destination manager of the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau. “We are extremely proud that of those partners, 28 hotel partners and 10 nonprofit partners are based in Maui… With such tremendous support and success from our industry and nonprofit partners on Maui since the inception of the program, we are hopeful that other nonprofits not only on Maui, but on Molokai and Lanai would be interested in partnering with us as we continue to grow the Malama Hawaii program to the greater Maui Nui.”…

What’s the News at MHS?

Thursday, October 14th, 2021

Community Contributed

By Clare Albino, MHS Newsletter Team

COVID has had its toll on the Molokai High School (MHS) students with missing out on so many fun activities. With the start of a new school year, MHS is proud to announce the new Molokai High School Executive Board. The students on this board are earnest to ensure that the high school is a safe learning environment.  They plan to bring some fun activities to make up for much of the student isolation of the last school year.  These chosen students want to make a difference for the 2021/22 school year and are keen to hear from the students’ voices and opinions on making the school a better place.  …

PALS Keiki Kare Winter Program

Thursday, October 14th, 2021

County of Maui News Release

Online registration will begin Monday, Nov. 1, for the 2021 PALS Keiki Kare Winter Program, the Department of Parks and Recreation announced.

This modified program aims to provide working families with essential child care during the winter break and help to strengthen their family and community connections.

The PALS Keiki Kare Program will begin Tuesday, Dec. 21, and continue through Thursday, Dec. 30, excluding holidays.

The Molokai program will be located at the Mitchell Pauole Center. 

Registration for the program will need to be completed online only between Monday, Nov. 1 and Monday, Nov. 15, and is open to children ages 5 to 12 years old.…

Dispatch Wins 4 Journalism Awards

Wednesday, October 6th, 2021

Dispatch Wins 4 Journalism Awards

The Molokai Dispatch News Release

The Molokai Dispatch was honored with four Excellence in Journalism awards for coverage in 2020 from the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter. The statewide awards are presented annually in newspaper, TV, radio and magazine categories and this year, recipients were announced via Zoom conference on Sept. 29. 

The Molokai Dispatch’s editor Catherine Cluett Pactol won first place for her story, “Sust’aina ble Molokai Launches Egg Production” in the general news/enterprise category of non-daily newspapers in Hawaii. The story, which printed in November 2020, highlighted the organization as the first of its kind to be certified in egg production and assisting community members to raise egg-laying chickens. …

Science Education Fund Grants

Thursday, September 30th, 2021

Bayer News Release 

Applications are now being accepted for the Bayer Hawaii Science Education Fund. This Bayer Fund grant program is open to public schools serving students at the intermediate, high school and college grade levels on the islands of Oahu, Maui and Molokai.

Established in 2005, the Bayer Hawaii Science Education Fund helps provide Hawaii public schools with programs, tools, supplies and equipment to enhance science education in the schools, and encourages today’s students to consider a future career in the sciences. To date, nearly $320,000 has been awarded to schools in Hawaii.

The next grant application deadline is Friday, Oct. 15. To download an application, visit hawaii.bayer.us/education/

Improvements for Kualapu`u Rec Center

Wednesday, September 8th, 2021

County of Maui News Release 

The Department of Parks and Recreation announced last week that, with ongoing repairs and renovations at the Kualapuʻu Recreation Center, the facility’s basketball/volleyball court will be closed from Monday, Sept. 20, through Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, for the construction of the Kualapuʻu Recreation Center Court Improvements project.

The court renovation project will include the removal and replacement of existing court equipment, resurfacing and restriping of the court, and an accessible route along the court to the existing walkway. The construction contract was awarded to Site Engineering Inc.

As part of the ongoing improvements to the Kualapuʻu Recreation Center, the renovation will also focus on upgrading the facility’s entrance and interior areas to enhance accessibility and security.…

Molokai Whippas Awards 3 Scholarships

Wednesday, August 11th, 2021

Molokai Whippas Awards 3 Scholarships

Molokai Whippas News Release

Another beautiful late spring day and the Molokai Whippas could only wonder what might have been. This year’s 44th annual Molokai Whippas Invitational Fishing Tournament became another victim to the COVID pandemic that has plagued the world for well over a year. Earlier this year, the Whippas made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s event.

Despite the cancellation, the Molokai Whippas ohana stepped up and really came through to help the Whippas attain their goal. A late decision was made to produce a limited edition commemorative shirt. Artist and designer Wayne Ng of Design Ng came through with a great design and collaborated with Guy Inocelda, who operates T’s On Me which screens the designs, to add masks to match the shirts.…

MAC Show Deadline Coming Up

Wednesday, August 11th, 2021

MAC News Release

Friendly reminder to all members, affiliates, and students (keiki through college) of the Molokai Arts Center (MAC) that the submission deadline is approaching for the 10th annual MAC Member Show.

We are currently accepting artwork for the Show! Deadline for submission is Sunday, Aug. 15 at 5 p.m. Notifications for juried works and cash prizes will be made the week of Aug. 31. All work juried in will be exhibited online from Sept. 28 through November.

Artwork must be dropped off with an entry form at the MAC studio Aug. 8-15. Reservations for drop off required! No walk-ins, please.…